Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard kicks off re-election campaign | VIDEO

ALBANY — In a room full of supporters at the Albany Area Arts Council on North Jackson Street, Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard officially kicked off her re-election campaign on Wednesday afternoon.

Mobile users can view Mayor Hubbard’s announcement here.

Friends and family of Hubbard, including various public leaders, spoke of her integrity, commitment to the community and the people in it.

Among them was former Dougherty County Commission Chair Jeff Sinyard, who has worked with her on a day-by-day basis.

“She knows that for all of us to grow, we have to come together,” he said. “The only way to be able to keep and maintain (the community) … is for all of the folks in leadership to come together.

“I support Dot Hubbard because she is doing the right thing.”

If she is re-elected, Hubbard said the next four years will be about building on what was set in motion the prior four years. This includes the Mayor’s Call to Service that encouraged cleanup efforts, working with the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission to make sure businesses can bring jobs to the city.

“Albany, Ga., is a world-class, dynamic city where people of all ages, all races and nationalities, rich and poor, live together … In this vibrant city, progressive city, we will love our neighbors as ourselves. We will work together to move our community forward,” Hubbard said. “That has been my dream and still is my dream.

The mayor described herself as a cheerleader for the city, specifically for the collaboration of leaders for Albany’s betterment.

“We finally have a group of men in this city who recognize, realize why they are here,” she said. “They are here to make Albany and Southwest Georgia better … so we are on the right track.

“We have finally realized there is truly one Albany, and by working together, Albany has a great future — and that is where the commissioners have focused.”

“As we move forward, we want to continue the concept of regionalism. Albany is a hub for Southwest Georgia, and I want us to start acting like a hub. You know what a hub is. A hub is a leader, a hub is the organization everyone looks to pattern themselves after. That is what we want to do.”